During one of the most challenging periods for South Africa’s avocado sector, industry bodies have been hard at work negotiating to get locally grown avocados into India, China, and Japan.
One of those industry bodies are Fruit South Africa, an umbrella body for Mzansi’s fruit industry, who have been at helm of negotiating avocados into the Asian countries.
According to Dr Mono Mashaba, specialist consultant for market development at Fruit SA, the conclusion of negotiations have gained strong momentum.
“The avocado industry has had to navigate the impact of very low domestic prices in Europe. The heavy reliance on the European market as the only major market for the product presents a significant risk to the medium- to long-term sustainability of the industry,” Mashaba said.
Things are, however, looking up.
Experimentation with cold treatment during September to mitigate Oriental fruit fly was successfully conducted with the participation of an expert from the Japanese ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
“We expect that the outcome of the experiment will help expedite negotiations,” Mashaba said.
In addition, a visit by Fruit SA to Japan earlier in October focused on lobbying for the conclusion of a protocol. They also met with potential importers to take South African avocados onboard in the 2023 season.
Here we come, India
The South African Subtropical Growers’ Association (Subtrop), an association that manages the affairs of the South African Avocado Growers’ Association (Saaga), also hosted the Indian ministry of agriculture and farmers welfare expert delegation in September.
“They visited SA to conduct a verification for avocado, and to finalise relevant market access negotiations. Following this successful visit, Fruit SA looks forward to the conclusion of the protocol that will allow market access into the second most populous country in the world,” Mashaba explained.
Negotiations with China to finalise the avocado protocol are also at an advanced stage.
Conditions of import have been proposed by the General Administration of Chinese Customs (GACC), and the department of agriculture, land reform and rural development (DALRRD) is currently considering the proposed conditions in consultation with Subtrop.
Market access for citrus and pears
Mashaba is of the view that the global environment has eased into a more moderate state regarding Covid-19. He pointed out that it is having a positive ripple effect on the pace of market access initiatives.
Things are also good in the pear and citrus industries.
In this September this year, following seven years of negotiations, the first container of South African pears was successfully shipped to China.
“We look forward to the resultant economic spin-offs, especially job creation,” added Mashaba.
However, the effects of the stringent and costly measures for false codling moth imposed by the EU for citrus access into their market, would be felt by the fruit industry for years to come.
“As a viable mitigation strategy against the impact of the EU decision, the industry is currently focusing on accessing new markets (for example in Vietnam) and growing market share in Japan, Thailand and the US.”
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